MEREWETHER, Newcastle, NSW/Australia (Wednesday, February 13, 2013) – Tomorrow will see the start of the 2013 ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series, with the men’s and women’s Burton Toyota Pro Junior. Competition is set to be fierce as Australia’s best surfers under 21-years-old do battle against a crop of internationals for precious points towards qualifying for the elite ASP World Junior Championships.

Jake Sylvester (Newcastle, NSW/AUS) is looking forward to competing at this year’s Burton Toyota Pro Junior as well as the men’s Open division at Surfest this year, and trying to make the most of his hometown advantage.

“I’ve been competing at Surfest for the last couple of years and I love it,” Sylvester said. “It’s great to compete at home because you’ve already got your routine and you’re comfortable. Sometimes when you travel it takes a while to settle in and at this event I don’t have to worry about that. This year is my last year on the ASP Pro Junior Series and I want to make the most of it.”

Warren Smith has been running Surfest since 1985 and has seen it grow to become one of Australia’s biggest and most prestigious surfing festivals.

“The Burton Toyota Pro Junior is a major event for Surfest 2013,” Smith said. “We have attracted an international field and in association with our major sponsor Burton Toyota we are proud to present the only combined men’s and women’s ASP Pro Junior event in Australia in 2013.”

Dane Jordan, ASP Australasia General Manager is thankful to Warren Smith and all the Surfest organisers and sponsors for their continued support of the ASP and Pro Junior surfing.

“I love returning to Newcastle for Surfest every year,” Jordan said. “It’s a great surfing festival that supports surfing at all levels. This is the first ASP Australasia Pro Junior Series event for the year and it’s fantastic to have the continued support for junior surfing from Surfest and Burton Toyota.”